Typewriter attachment to destroy used ribbon



TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT IO DEST R O Y U S E D R I B B ON eeeeeeeeeeee L1 TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT To DEsTRoY USED RIBBoN Filed OC.. 2l, 1965 July 11, 1967 J. w. TUM/mucus 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 11, 1967 J. w. TUMAVICUS 3,330,399

T'XPEWRITER ATTACHMENT TO DESTROY USED RIBBON Filed oct. 21, 1965 5 shee'zsneet s f ECU 3 United States Patent O 3,330,399 TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT T DESTROY USED RIBBON Julius W. Tumavicus, 27 Pequot Trail, Indian Town, Oid Saybrook, Conn. 06475 Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,387 Claims. (Cl. 197--151) This invention relates to a device for use with a typewriter for making the type impressions on the ribbon illegible.

The used typewriter ribbon is known to be a source by which to obtain classified infomation since the type impressions can frequently be read from the ribbon. This is especially true of the newer, single use, ribbon which passes only once past the typing position in the typewriter. To prevent these ribbons from being improperly acquired, it is common practice for a typist yhandling classied material to remove and dispose of the ribbon whenever she leaves her desk regardless of the amount of used ribbon. One feature of the present invention is a device for making illegible the type impressions on the ribbon as it is carried `away from the typing position in the machine. Another feature is an attachment for the standard typewriter that may be mounted thereon with a minimum of change in the typewriter itself.

One feature of the invention is an arrangement by which to cut the ribbon into short pieces which may be about as narrow as the length of ribbon fed for each typewriter stroke thereby making it impossible to decipher the impressions. Another feature combined with this is a receptacle to replace the take-up reel and which will receive the cut-up pieces of the ribbon.

Although cutting the ribbon into small pieces is one of the preferred methods for making the ribbon undecipherable, it will be understood that other methods may be used. Accordingly, one feature of the invention is a device operated with a reciprocatory motion by which to punch, cut, shred, or otherwise treat the ribbon to destroy the readability of the type impressions on the ribbon. Another feature is the actuation of this device with a solenoidtype structure that is energized by each typewriter during the typing process.

A particular feature of the invention is a typewriter attachment located adjacent to the take-up rolls on a typewriter and actuated whenever a typewriter key is operated for destroying the continuity of the used ribbon, together with a container, removably mounted on the take-up reel support on the typewriter, to receive the ribbon parts as they leave the device.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims, and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. l is a perspective view of a typewriter with the invention thereon.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing the device in position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device.

PIG. 5 is an inverted plan view of a detail.

The arrangement as shown is an attachment for a conventional typewriter and is mounted on an electric typewriter although it can readily be adapted to a manual typewriter. In the drawings, the typewriter 2 has a frame 4 which supports the platen 6, a set of type bars 8 carrying the type indicia, and a set of keys for actuating the type bars. A ribbon 12 is guided past the typing position (the dotted showing of a type bar) where the individual type faces are struck against the ribbon for typing on paper placed around the platen. rIhe ribbon is fed from a supply roll, not shown, through suitable guides 14 and thence between two take-up rolls 16 located above a support 18, FG. 2, for a take-up spool. The latter is not shown since Mice this element of the typewriter is removed in using the present invention and is replaced by a receptacle 20 releasably carried on the support 18. This support is pivoted on the frame 4 as by a hinge 21 so that the receptacle may be swung out from beneath the take-up rolls for removal. This receptacle is located below the device by which the impressions made on the ribbon by the type faces are made illegible. In the 'arrangement shown this device cuts the ribbon transversely into short sections, normally as short as the length of ribbon fed past the typing position for each stroke of the typewriter. In this way the integrity of the tape for purposes of reading the typed impressions is destroyed.

The device includes a base 22 attached as by bolts 24 to .the frame 4 for the typewriter, the base being located adjacent to the take-up rolls 16 and carrying a projection 26 extending below the rolls and supporting a fixed cutting edge or blade 28 past which the ribbon moves as it leaves the take-up rolls. The base 22 includes a solenoid 30 having a movable plunger 32, the latter having a movable knife blade 34 on its outer end to cooperate with the fixed edge 28. A spring 36 normally holds the plunger in the retracted position shown, and energizing of the solenoid carries the blade 34 past the fixed edge and severs a small section from the ribbon as it feeds between the blade and the fixed edge.

The solenoid may be actuated by any mechanism assoelated with the typewriter. In the arrangement shown the typewriter has an actuating arm 3S mounted on the spindle 40 for one of the take-up rolls and reciprocated whenever the typewriter makes a stroke by a link 41 suitably actuated through movement of any one of the typewriter keys, and in some instances by the spacer bar 42 conventionally provided on the typewriter. This arm is connected to the take-up roll by a one-direction clutch to turn the roll actuated by it in the direction for feeding the typewriter ribbon (counterclockwise, as shown). A switch 43 1s mounted on the typewriter frame 4 adjacent to the free end of the arm 3S and is actuated by movement of the arm 33 which engages with the switch button 44. By connecting this switch to the solenoid, the latter will be energized for each stroke of any of the type bars (and the spacer bar) and will thus accomplish the result described above. The switch 43 is bolted to the frame 4 by bolts 45, as shown.

The receptacle 29 is releasably mounted on the reel support and to this end has ya grooved button ,46 on the back thereof to it in a slot 4S existing in the reel support. Suitable locating lugs 50 engage the side of the reel support, as shown, and hold it in an upright position.

In use, the attachment is mounted on a conventional typewriter and the typist proceeds to type the classified material in the usual way. During the typing the device functions to cut the ribbon into such small pieces that any type impressions on the ribbon are effectively obliterated or made illegible. Whenever the typist must leave her typewriter she readily removes the receptacle 2i) and places the contents in the so-called burn-basket and the material is eectively disposed of. It will be noted that there is a short section of ribbon between the typing station and the take-up rolls. This is easily fed through and severed by actuation of the spacer bar or one of the type buttons.

In this way only so much of the ribbon as is used and may have classitied information thereon is destroyed or fragmented whenever the typist leaves her desk and the remainder of the ribbon is still available for further typing. The used and severed portion of the ribbon is so effectively made undecipherable that the typist may well leave the pieces in the receptacle until the need for plCHg a 116W ribbon in the typewriter.

Although the device has been described as an arrangement for severing the ribbon into very short sections, it may equally be arranged to punch a series of -small holes in the ribbon for each stroke of the solenoid. Obviously, converting the knife to a multi-punch element would be within the scope of this invention. Alternatively, other means may be mounted on the solenoid for obscuring the typed impressions such as a hammer head that would pound on the ribbon to mark out the typed impressions. That is to say, any device by which to destroy the integrity of the ribbons so that the typed impressions cannot possibly be read by an unauthorized person. The severing arrangement is considered as the preferred embodiment since it eliminates the complete type impressions on the ribbon such that they are not readable and permits thek disposal of the imprinted tape whenever the typist leaves her desk as may be required by security rules.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment herein illustrated and described, but may be used in other ways without departure from its spirit as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a typewriter, a frame, a ribbon, a supply reel for the ribbon on the frame, means for feeding the ribbon through the typewriter, means located on the frame adjacent the feeding means for fragmenting the type irnpressions on the ribbon as it is fed from the feeding means, a single actuating means for both the feeding means and the fragmenting means, a container removably located on Vthe frame below the fragmenting means to receive the remains of the ribbon from the fragmenting means, and supporting means with releasable attachment means for the take-up reel, said container having means engageable With the releasable attachment means such that the container is carried by and removable from said supporting means.

2. A typewriter as in claim 1 in which the feeding means includes cooperating rolls between which the ribbon is fed, the fragmenting means being located below the rolls and a single actuating means operates the rolls and fragmenting means. Y

3. An attachment for use with a typewriter, the latter including a frame, a platen on the frame, a ribbon, a set of type, keys for selectively moving each type of the set against the ribbon in the typing process, means responsive to actuation of the keys for advancing the ribbon during the typing process, said attachment including operable means for mounting on the frame and actuated during the typing process for eliminating the impressions made on the ribbon, means also for mounting on the frame in a position to be engaged and operated by said ribbon advancing means to actuate said eliminating means whereby said impression eliminating means operates at least as frequently as the ribbon is advanced, said feeding means including opposed rolls between which the ribbon is fed, an actuating arm movable in response to actuation of any of the keys to turn one of said rolls, said eliminating means being actuated by kmovement of the said arm, a take-up reel support located below the take-up rolls, and a container positioned on the reel support to collect the ribbon from the eliminating means.

4. An attachment as in claim 3 in which the eliminating means is a cutter located below the take-up rolls and actuated by movement of said actuating arm for cutting the ribbon into small pieces and in which a container is mounted on the typewriter below the rolls and the cutter to receive the pieces of the ribbon.

5. An attachment for use with a typewriter, the latter including a frame, a platen on the frame, a ribbon, a set of type bars and a set of keys for actuating each type bar of the set selectively, take-up rolls between which the rib'- bon is fed after it passes the typing position, means responsive to depression of any key to actuate said take-up rolls, and a take-up reel support on said frame below the take-up rolls having releasable reel engaging means, said attachment including a base for attachment to said frame, a cutter mounted on said base, and a solenoid on said base for actuating said cutter, the cutter being located below the take-up rolls and having cooperating blades between which the ribbon is fed by said rolls, and a switch for the solenoid for attachment to said frame, said switch being in a position to be operated by said roll actuating means, a container is mounted on said take-up reel support with its open upper end below the cutter to receive the severed ribbon and, said container having means thereon releasably engageable with the reel engaging means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,960 8/1909 Low, 241-101 X 960,026 5/1910 LOW 19-82 1,083,466 1/1914 Seddon V197-151 1,759,026 5/1930 Terriberry 178-1 2,161,856 6/1939 COXhead 197-151 2,475,336 7/1949 Petz 197--171 XR 2,840,218 6/1958 Pelton 197--151 3,088,683 5/1963 Joseph et al. 241-86 3,189,286 6/1965 OConnor 100-39 X ROBERT E. PULFREY, frmary Examiner.

E. S. BURR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A TYPEWRITER, A FRAME, A RIBBON, A SUPPLY REEL FOR THE RIBBON ON THE FRAME, MEANS FOR FEEDING THE RIBBON THROUGH THE TYPEWRITER, MEANS LOCATED ON THE FRAME ADJACENT THE FEEDING MEANS FOR FRAGMENTING THE TYPE IMPRESSIONS ON THE RIBBON AS IT IS FED FROM THE FEEDING MEANS, A SINGLE ACTUATING MEANS FOR BOTH THE FEEDING MEANS AND THE FRAGMENTING MEANS, A CONTAINER REMOVABLY LOCATED ON THE FRAME BELOW THE FRAGMENTING MEANS TO RECEIVE THE REMAINS OF THE RIBBON FROM THE FRAGMENTING MEANS, AND SUPPORTING MEANS WITH RELEASABLE ATTACHMENT MEANS FOR 